Died Tuesday at his home on Roanoke Island in North Carolina. An actor, singer and comedian, he is fondly remembered by generations of fans as the Mayberry sheriff in The Andy Griffith Show. Who can forget the opening of a man and a little boy, walking down a dirt road, carrying their fishing poles and whistling a tune? It featured the memorable characters of Deputy Barney Fife, garage mechanic Gomer Pyle, Aunt Bee, Thelma Lou, and little Opie Taylor.

Sheriff Andy Griffith made his screen debut in a 1960 episode of The Danny Thomas Show, where Danny is arrested for running a stop sign. Later that same year, Andy's own show debuted and continued for 8 seasons and a total of 249 episodes. Andy helped other townspeople fix their problems and the show provided wholesome entertainment for the entire family.

Mr. Griffith also recorded and released several albums of Gospel songs and comedy sketches. He performed on Broadway, at night clubs, and in films as well as television.

Came home from vacation and found out that actress Ann Rutherford passed away on June the 11th. She is probably best remembered for playing Mickey Rooney's friend, Polly Benedict, in the Andy Hardy series. She played in more than 50 films, including Gone With The Wind. Usually played the girl-next-door type roles and displayed solid, reliable acting in most of her films. She is always enjoyable in her film appearances. She had a good comic streak in her but also was surprisingly able to tackle some dramatic roles, too.

JUDY GARLAND (10 June 1922 - 22 June 1969) is known the world over for her performance as "Dorothy" in The Wizard of Oz. A singer and actress since childhood, her early movie career is best remembered for her teaming with Mickey Rooney, an on-screen duo that would continue until 1948. However, it was "The Wizard of Oz" that pushed her into instant stardom, as well as giving her her signature song "Over the Rainbow". Her 1954 comeback film, "A Star is Born" became another instant success and was the last starring film success of her career. She regularly appeared on television and the concert stage, and in 1961 appeared at Carnegie Hall. The album of her performance that night won four Grammys and has never been out of print.

Today would have been Judy's 90th birthday. Thanks to her many films and recordings, we can still enjoy her talent. Whether it is 17 year old Judy singing "Over The Rainbow" or 32 year-old Judy singing "The Man That Got Away", her talent is obvious. Now, many of her films are being released on DVD and you can enjoy her performances. (If you haven't tried The Pirate, you should! Her rendition of "Mack The Black" holds its' own against "Get Happy" and "Man Who Got Away".)

Today, we want to remember the birthday of one of the "top" classic actors to play on the silver screen: John Wayne. He is one of those actors that almost everybody knows by name and seen at least one of his films. The Hollywood western was taken to "Grade A" thanks to him and his starring role in the film classic, Stagecoach (1939). He played everything from a cowboy to a boxer to an engineer to a pilot --- and he mastered them all!

Thanks to him, we have a fabulous rendition of America: Why I Love Her. Once heard it's unforgettable. In his films he was a "man of few words," but those that he did say endeared him to the whole nation. Happy Birthday, Mr. Wayne!

Have you ever wondered how they make an Oscar statue? Below is a link to an interesting video from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences showing how an Oscar Statuette is made. The Oscar is first cast in Britannium, then electro-plated in Copper, Nickel, Silver, and finally, 24K Gold. They are then mounted on a black nickel-plated base. The personal engraved tags which identify the winners are engraved after the ceremony and attached later. Click to watch "Making an Oscar Statuette" at Oscars.org.

Garbo Laughs! The publicity tagline for the 1939 Lubitsch comedy, "NINOTCHKA". It starred the movie legend Greta Garbo as the stern, unromantic Soviet envoy; Melvyn Douglas as the French dandy who wins her heart; Ina Claire as the Russian Grand Duchess in exile; and Felix Bressart, Sig Ruman, and Alexander Granach as the Soviet emissaries who are drawn to Capitalism.

Opposites attract in this film, as Melvyn Douglas sets out to capture Garbo's heart in this fun film. He is a French aristocrat representing a Russian Grand Duchess in the battle to get her "legally confiscated" jewels from the Soviet emissaries who have just arrived in Paris to sell them. The emissaries are quickly attracted to Capitalism and the Soviet government sends an "envoy extraordinaire" to clear up the mess. Her entrance - magnificent. All work and no play, she decides to spend her free time inspecting Paris' technical achievements. So, to the Eiffel Tower!

On the way she meets Count Leon (Douglas), enlisting his aid in navigating a map of the city. The ensuing dialogue will keep you in stitches as the two cultures clash. He follows her and invites her to "inspect" his house. However, he receives a call from the emissaries and she realizes who he is. For the next three days, she is in conference with lawyers over the court case, and Leon is unsuccessful in his tries to see her. However, he follows her to a restaurant and tries to make her laugh. Although the other patrons find his jokes amusing, she remains impassive - that is, until an accident sends her into uncontrollable laughter.

Back at the hotel, her comrades are amazed by her changed attitude. She sends them out for a day on the town, leaving her to go visit Leon. She arrives dressed in a fashionable dress and a silly hat, and she confesses that she has fallen in love with him. A few days later, he takes her to a fancy nightclub, where she wears a fancy evening dress a la Adrian. They meet the Grand Duchess and for a moment a new front erupts. Ninotchka is unhappy until Leon tells her that he doesn't want her to go back to Russia. As the evening progresses, the champagne hits her rather hard, and Leon is asked by the management to retrieve her from the powder room, where she is urging the attendants to go on strike. They arrive back at the hotel rather tight and wind up taking the jewels out of the safe, forgetting to lock them back up. The next morning, the Grand Duchess wakes Ninotchka up, admitting that a waiter (who is a Russian aristocrat in exile) has pinched the jewels and they are now in the Grand Duchess' possession. However, knowing that she will ultimately lose the court battle, she agrees to return all the jewels and renounce her claim if Ninotchka will leave for Russia that very afternoon. Being her duty to the Soviet people, Ninotchka agrees.

Leon, however, is determined to get Ninotchka back. He applies for a visa at the Soviet Embassy, but is refused. Back in Russia, Ninotchka is back in the Communistic lifestyle. She has the three emissaries over for dinner, and they reminisce about the days spent in Paris. She gets a letter from Leon, but it has been completely censored.

About a year after her visit to Paris, she is sent, by the commisar, to Constantinople. Her three friends were sent on another mission and have failed after six weeks. She arrives to find that they have abandoned communism and opened a restaurant. At the hotel, Leon is waiting for her, and convinces her to stay with him.

This was one of the legendary Garbo's final screen roles. The original three-sentence plot outline was remarkably simple - "Russian girl saturated with Bolshevist ideals goes to fearful, Capitalistic, monopolistic Paris. She meets romance and has an uproarious good time. Capitalism not so bad after all." Garbo apparently was nervous about doing a comedy, but thought the idea was interesting. The hat that she wears in the film was actually made by costume designer Adrian, based on a sketch by Garbo herself. She disliked having to play drunk in a scene, considering it vulgar and unbecoming and found it hard to act. Ninotchka and Garbo were nominated for the Best Picture and Best Actress Academy Awards, however they lost to the monumental Gone With The Wind. Ninotchka was turned into a hit Broadway play, Silk Stockings, which was later made into a musical film starring Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire. Today, Ninotchka still remains a classic and in 1990 was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. Seen today, it is still captivating and Garbo still amazes as the Russian who proves that she can laugh!

Today we wish classic actor, Kirk Douglas a "Happy 95th Birthday"! He is a fantastic actor and played in a variety of roles, from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea to Gunfight at the OK Corral. He even recorded his own record! In his long and eventful career, Mr. Douglas has made over 90 film and television appearances and has been nominated three times for the Best Actor Oscar and in 1996 he was presented with an honorary Oscar in "50 years as a creative and moral force in the motion picture community."

America's Singing Sweetheart of the '30s and '40s celebrates her 90th birthday today. Following her overnight success with the release of her first film, Three Smart Girls, in 1936, Deanna Durbin became one of the most popular Hollywood stars worldwide. When she got her first screen kiss in 1939, it pushed the war news off the front pages of many newspapers! There was a line of clothing called "Deanna Durbin Cinderella Frocks" and there was even a "Deanna Durbin Doll".

Her Hollywood star soared brightly for twelve years, leaving behind 21 feature films, several short films, lots of recordings, loads of memorabilia and many fans with unforgettable memories. For all the fame, Deanna was never happy with Hollywood, the studio system, and the star fixation of the fans. In 1948, after the release of For the Love of Mary, she packed up and moved to France. There she met and married Director Charles David (who actually directed her film, Lady on a Train). They settled down in a farmhouse and raised her daughter, Jessica, and their son, Peter, who was born in 1951.

Today she celebrates her 90th birthday, and is still remembered by many fans across the world. You can still experience her beautiful voice on home video and cds. Who can forget the first time she came onto the silver screen? Her voice soaring over a lake surrounded in pine trees. "My heart is singing . . ."

Today is Roy Rogers' 100th birthday! On November 5, 1911, Roy Rogers was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Today the spot is covered by second base of the baseball stadium.Roy grew up in Ohio and then moved to California with his father during the depression.

In 1938, he burst upon the cinema screen, with his first starring role, in "Under Western Stars". Together with his beautiful palomino named Trigger, Roy quickly climbed to the top and became the King of the Cowboys. Throughout his long and distinguished career, he made 88 feature films and 100 episodes of "The Roy Rogers Show".

In 1947, Roy married his leading lady, Dale Evans. Together they made western entertainment history. Becoming beloved role models for every little "cowpoke" who ever dreamed of the American West. They provided many, many happy trails for people all over the world.

In honor of Roy's 100th birthday, we have put together a video tribute which features the fabulous song, "The King of the Cowboys", which was written by (and is sung by) Roy Rogers, Jr. (Dusty). So sit back and enjoy "The King of the Cowboys", who will forever be remembered as a "kind and gentle legend". Happy Trails to you!

THE KING OF THE COWBOYS He's rode across your silver screen For over forty years He's brought bad men to justice he's seen laughter, and he's seen tears and I know forever, in many hearts he'll reign As the King of the Cowboys. There is honour to his name.

He's a kind and gentle legend a hero is his name Showing young folks to see the right from wrong And he's taught me the very same And I know forever, in many hearts he'll reign As the King of the Cowboys There is magic in his name

He's the King of the Cowboys, a legend in his time A man who loves his country Where he will always ride Saddled up on his golden Palomino A six gun at each side His spurs and boots and his white hat Walks a man with a lot of Pride

He's the King of the Cowboys A legend in his time A man who loves his country Riding off into the sunset In a western sky of blue He has given precious memories and Happy Trails to me and you!

Legendary comedian, Bob Hope's wife died Monday, September 19, 2011, at the age of 102. The met in 1933 and were married on Feb. 19, 1934. She soon retired from her singing career and stayed home to raise their four children.

Friend Nancy Reagan summed it up best, "She was an extraordinary partner to Bob throughout his entire life, supporting both their family at home and Bob's selfless cause to entertain U.S. troops abroad. Together, they brought countless hours of laughter and cheer to Americans everywhere."